CVE-2017-7022 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3.3 is affected. macOS before 10.12.6 is affected. tvOS before 10.2.2 is affected. watchOS before 3.2.3 is affected. The issue involves the "Kernel" component. It allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in a privileged context or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7022 represents a critical kernel-level flaw affecting multiple Apple operating systems including iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. This security weakness resides within the kernel component of Apple's software ecosystem, making it particularly dangerous as the kernel serves as the core foundation of operating systems responsible for managing system resources and hardware interactions. The vulnerability specifically affects iOS versions prior to 10.3.3, macOS versions prior to 10.12.6, tvOS versions prior to 10.2.2, and watchOS versions prior to 3.2.3, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's product portfolio. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within a privileged context, effectively elevating their privileges beyond normal user limitations and potentially granting them complete system control.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that can be exploited through a crafted application. This type of flaw typically arises from improper input validation or buffer overflow conditions within kernel code where attackers can manipulate memory structures to execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the vulnerability may involve improper handling of memory allocation, deallocation, or access patterns within the kernel's memory management subsystem. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would likely map to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read or CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which are common categories for kernel-level memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7022 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions that could render affected devices unusable. When attackers can execute arbitrary code in a privileged context, they gain access to the full system capabilities including the ability to modify system files, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially compromise the device's integrity. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a crafted application, suggesting that attackers could potentially deliver malicious payloads through app stores or through social engineering tactics that trick users into installing compromised applications. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where device security is paramount.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with multiple techniques including T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1484: Domain Policy Modification. The ability to execute code in a privileged context directly maps to privilege escalation tactics, while the potential for system compromise represents a significant threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including prompt deployment of Apple's security patches, monitoring for suspicious application installations, and enhanced security awareness training to prevent users from installing untrusted applications. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous system behavior or unauthorized privilege escalation activities. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of timely patch management and the need for robust security practices across all operating system components, particularly those with elevated privileges such as the kernel.